Electrochromism of nanoparticulate-doped metal oxides: optical and material properties

Nanoparticulate antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) has been used as the electrochromic material for the production of printed, interdigitated electrochromic displays. We report here some results on elemental and ionic modifications to the ATO in an attempt to improve electrochromic switching. We have also briefly studied the effects of antimony and tin distribution in the mixed oxide by a sequential preparation method. Lastly, we show here that the optical changes observed by electrically switching these displays are caused solely by changes in absorption coefficient of the ATO and not by any change in diffuse scattering coefficient related to refractive index modulation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.